Alicia Silverstone reflected on the intense experience of filming her first movie, which involved sharing an on-screen kiss with actor Cary Elwes, who was 14 years older than her. This marked a significant moment in Silverstone‘s early career, and it took place during the production of The Crush in 1993.
From the outset, Silverstone was determined to land the role of Adrian Forrester, a 14-year-old girl obsessed with a 28-year-old writer named Nick Eliot, played by Elwes. Despite multiple auditions for writer-director Alan Shapiro’s project, she initially saw the part offered to another actress before ultimately being cast after the original lead dropped out.
Portraying a Complex and Dark Character
The story of The Crush presented a psychologically intense role, which challenged Silverstone at a young age. She described feeling uneasy taking on the part of a character grappling with dangerous obsession. Acting alongside Elwes intensified these feelings, especially because of the mature content involved.
Silverstone shared,
“They had me back many, many times, and it seemed like I was going to get the part — and then they offered it to someone else,”
—Alicia Silverstone, recalling auditions for the film.
She added,
“It felt really bad. For some reason, I felt like I was supposed to play this psychotic character,”
emphasizing the emotional weight of her role in the film.
Remarkable On-Screen Kiss with Cary Elwes
One of the most memorable parts of Silverstone’s experience was kissing Cary Elwes, known for his role in The Princess Bride, when she was only 15 years old and he was close to 30. This moment became a defining point for her first movie kiss.
She shared,
“I had to kiss the guy from The Princess Bride!”
—Alicia Silverstone, expressing surprise at the pairing.
Silverstone also revealed her youthful perspective on the kiss, commenting,
“I was young, so because we had this kiss in the film, I thought that that meant he was my boyfriend now.”
She laughed and added,
“Not really … but a little bit.”
Rapid Rise to Fame and Its Difficulties
Prior to The Crush, Silverstone had only a minor role on The Wonder Years, but the movie‘s release quickly propelled her into the spotlight. She became known as a teen icon and was frequently objectified for her looks, especially after starring in several popular ’90s Aerosmith music videos that highlighted her provocative image.
Reflecting on her sudden fame, Silverstone admitted,
“It was really hard, because you’re just a little girl. You’re a little person and trying to grow up, and you’re growing up in front of people.”
She further explained,
“For any human, it’s an awkward time … For any human, most of life is pretty awkward.”
She also commented on how focus on her physical appearance was constant but something she has since managed to overcome.
“We definitely did it differently back then. And that was not easy, for sure. But it’s all fine,”
Silverstone said, later acknowledging,
“certainly something that stays with you.”
Return to ’90s-Style Thriller with ‘Pretty Things’
Despite the ups and downs with early fame, Silverstone hinted at returning to her roots in ’90s cinema with her recent release, Pretty Things, which premiered in July. She noted that the style of ’90s erotic thrillers is making a comeback.
Describing the film’s plot, Silverstone said,
“In the ’90s, the woman was the naughty one, and she was definitely crazy or going to kill somebody or end up dead. In Pretty Things, it’s an older, powerful woman and a younger man, and he’s the weirdo.”
She also explained her character’s dynamic, adding,
“My character has a healthy relationship with sex, and he ends up being the cuckoo bird. Now some might say she’s a little cuckoo too, but I don’t think so.”
Significance of Alicia Silverstone’s First Movie Kiss
Alicia Silverstone’s first movie kiss with Cary Elwes remains a notable moment in her career, symbolizing both the challenges and rapid changes she endured as a young actress. This experience in The Crush serves as a reminder of the pressures faced by child actors stepping into complex roles, particularly with such an age gap between romantic leads. Her candid reflections on these early struggles provide insight into the difficulties of growing up in the public eye while managing mature themes on screen.
Looking ahead, Silverstone’s return to the thriller genre with Pretty Things illustrates her continued evolution as an actress while connecting back to the formative moments that launched her career.
